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Swine flu found in swine

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For the first time, pandemic H1N1 influenza, commonly known as swine flu, has been found in pigs in the United States. Sporadic, small outbreaks in swine have been observed elsewhere, but the virus has been slow to make its way into the U.S. farm population. In all cases, the infection of the pigs has been attributed to transmission of the virus from humans.

U.S. Department of Agriculture officials had predicted that the virus would make its way into pigs, and it was found in samples collected between Aug. 26 and Sept. 1 in pigs at the Minnesota State Fair -- although the identification of pandemic H1N1 influenza has not yet been confirmed. Officials believe the pigs caught the virus from infected 4-H students who were visiting the fair. One hundred students were sent home after four were confirmed to be infected.

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Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack cautioned consumers about overreacting to the news, emphasizing that it is not possible to contract the swine flu virus by eating pork or pork products.

The infection is further bad news for the pork industry, which has already been suffering from sales declines attributed to the pandemic. The industry has been urging the media not to call the pandemic swine flu, but that label has apparently already made its way into American culture.

-- Thomas H. Maugh II

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